I’ll be honest. My first reaction to the iPad was disappointment. I wanted Apple’s new device to be something other than a really big iPhone/iPod Touch. I was bound to be disappointed because I wanted this device to change the entire way humans and computers interact. After all, aren’t you getting a bit tired of mice and keyboards?

What I didn’t realize is that Apple already made huge progress rethinking all of our computers when they released the iPhone. I knew that the iPhone was a fun and easy to use phone and computing device, but I didn’t imagine a future where many of our computers are iPhone-like in their simplicity.

Techy types that are accustomed to having tons of control are freaking out about the lack of options (no multitasking!!?) with the iPad. Just like many people did when Apple shipped computers without floppy disc drives. Remember those? Other people might be willing to trade that flexibility for reliability and simplicity.

Even without the “this is the future of computing” angle, the iPad still has some practical implications for libraries. For one, it may increase the popularity of reading books on a screen. Perhaps more importantly, it certainly will make for an excellent roving reference tool. Anyone interested in testing out this theory?

UPDATE: Here’s an interesting dystopian take on the future that Apple is attempting to create.